Sterilizing holder for clinical thermometers



Ocl- 7, 1930- A. A; GLDsTElN 1,777,641

STBRILIZING HOLDER FOR CLINIC'AL THBRIOIBTBRS Filed nay 11, 192ePatented ct. 7, 1930 NUNITED STATES PATNTfo-m AARON A. GOLDSTEIN, FBTJ'FIEAIrOj` NEW` YORK y YSTERILIZING Homann Fon oLrNrcAnrHEnluoMErnnsApplication filed May 11, 1928.- v Serial No. 277,001.

The principal objects .of this inventionv are y to eliminate the highlyunsanitary conditions incident to the use of clinicalthermometers in theordinary use of same with various patients where it is impossible forthe physician to obtain access to proper sterilizers between calls, andto provide a very simpleand convenient means for carrying a thermometerwhich will effectively retain a sterilizing liquid.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the novelconstruction of a closure for a tubular container which will allow theready insertion and removal of the vthermoml eter and which willeffectively seal the opentaken at right angles to the view in Figure 2and with the'cap removed.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the closure for the tube.

It has been the practice for many yearsfor j physicians to carry theirclinical thermometers in a small case in the vest pocket and,

in the course of their professional calls the thermometer may be usedfor several patients without being properly sterilized.v Alcoholprovides an excellent sterilizer but itv has not been found feasible touse same, as suitable means for closing the receptacle against "leakagewhen the thermometer is removed have not been available.

The present invention provides a closure which upon the removal of thethermometer, seals the tubular holder so that the alcohol will notescape if the holder is laid down or even` if it is inverted. p rllhedevice comprises a tubular holder 1 which may be of a suitable diameterto be carried inv the vest pocket without inconvenience. Itis providedwith a closure 2 having a central cylindrical passage 3 which is an easysliding lit for the thermometer 4.

point ofl intersection Softheftwo bevelled y l The closureV is providedwith a cylindrical portion' which is a snugfit for the cylindricalportion 6 of the Itop end of the'tube 1. j The inner end of the portion5 is bevelled on opposite sides forming awedge-shaped structure, theflat faces k7 of `whichmee't at'the apex. It will'be seen that thebevelled'faces 7 of the portion 5 intersect or cut intothelpassagevlbut. that the side portions extendto a faces. j y j nAlf-shallow ,groove 9 is cut in the closure member across each ofthefiatfaces 7 adjacent to the to thereofand'a thin flat plate 10,

preferably of metal and shaped to conform to' the contour of the fiatface?, isiarranged to fit against `each offsaid faces andi is prOfvidedwith aflanged edge 11at thetop'to lit loosely `in the transverse groove.

A'circumferentialgroove 125 is cut in the 70 cylindrical part 5 oftheclosure just above Vthe grooves 9 and a iinewire 13 is bent to fit intosaid groove and theV ends thereof are bent downwardly andinwardlyand fitsnugly against the plates 10 to hold them in close contact with thebevelled faces 7, said spring ends being firmly secured to the plates.

The closure is formed with a shoulder 14 Y which abuts the top end ofthe tube 1.

` It will be readily seen that when the ser? thermometer is removed theplates 10v form a pair of valves which effectively seal against thebevelled faces 7 and said valves are arranged'so that their bottom edgesclose tightj ly together, thus sealing the tube so that a B5 fluidcontained in the tube cannot escape.

When the thermometer 4 is inserted in the passage 3 of the closure thevalve plates spread outwardly being carried by their flexible springsand allow the thermometer to extend down into the well of the tube andto be immersed in the alcohol or other sterilizingfluid.

The bottom end of the tube is preferably provided with a removableportion 15 to allow for the ready fillin'or of same and a spring 16 andfloating plate l? are provided to hold the thermometer from rattling andto protect it from injury and also to eject the thermometer when the capis removed.

2:vv y1,777,641

The device is extremely simple and the valves constructed as describedare very effetive and serviceable.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a tubular holder, a closure having a cylindrical end itting intosaid holder and provided with a cylindrical longitudinal pasf i sage andhaving a pair of bevelled meeting faces at the inner end, a pair of flatValves closing against said Hat faces and meeting at their inner endsandsealigng thejcy-lindrical passage, and spring means for holding saidvalves to said faces. i

2. In a tubular holder, a closure having a cylindrical end iitting intosaid holder and provided with a cylindrical longitudinal passage and latbevelled meeting faces at the inner end, transverse grooves arranged atthe upper ends offsaid flatl faces, a pair'of fiat valves adapted to`close together and to fit against said fl'at''fa`c'es`,` and eachhaving a ianged edge atthe top to enter said grooves, and spring mean l3. Y In tibiilar holder; Ya gclosure, having a i' cylindrical vendvfitting into'said holder and` provided With a cylindrical longitudinalpassage and Hatl bevelled ineetingfaces at'the inner end, apair of flatvalvesfclosing' against' said flat facesy andmeetfing lat their. innerendsY and sealing the cylindrical passagera circliinfferential grooveformed A in saidv closure above said flat facesgand avvi'respringsecured to said valves,andrseat/ed'iiilsaidgroove.

AARON A.v GOLD'STEIN.

4ier i returning said valves: f

